Colon Cancer Awareness & Prevention

Nebraska Colon Cancer Screening Program (NCP) is a colon cancer screening program that offers enrollment, screening and education to Nebraska men and women who are 50-74 years of age.

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What you need to know

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Screening Saves Lives!

Women and men over the age of 50 are at an increased risk for colon cancer. Having regular screening tests beginning at age 50 could save your life. Screening can find precancerous polyps (abnormal growths in the colon or rectum) so they can be removed before turning into cancer. Screening can find colorectal cancer at an early stage, when treatment often leads to a cure.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States, and Nebraska ranks 41st for screening rates, but we can do better. Get screened today!

Colon cancer often starts with no symptoms. The exact cause of most colon cancers is not known, however research says that approximately 75% of colorectal cancers occur in people with no known risk factors.

Risk factors may increase a person's risk of developing colon cancer. Risk factors include having a family history of colon or rectal polyps or colorectal cancer, or Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's Disease) Genetic syndromes.

Colon cancer develops with few, if any, symptoms at first. If symptoms are present, they may include:

Blood in or on the stool

A change in bowel habits

Stools that are narrower than usual

General, unexplained stomach discomfort

Frequent gas, pains, or indigestion

Unexplained weight loss

Chronic fatigue

These symptoms can also be associated with other health conditions. If you have any of the symptoms, discuss them with your health care provider. Only your health care provider, through testing, can determine why you're having these symptoms.